News: Rotherham firms receive royal visits

Two Rotherham-based companies had the honour of a royal visit recently when Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was in the region.

Last month, Princess Anne visited MTL Advanced in Brinsworth, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Professor Dame Hilary Chapman.

The firm, which operates a 387,000 sq ft facility, has over 440 employees and annual sales expected to exceed £64m for 2025. MTL Advanced is recognised globally as a market leader in the processing of armoured steels and complex fabrications. The business has invested more than £15m in additional factory space and state-of-the-art equipment over the past two years.

In addition, over 100 apprentices have now come through the doors of MTL's in-house Academy since it opened its doors in 2015 and the company’s home-grown talent has played a critical role in the company’s recent growth and success.

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After a visit to a nursery and the Baby Basics UK charity in Sheffield, Her Royal Highness then visited Yorkshire Crisps in Rotherham.

The luxury hand cooked crisps and popcorn maker is based at Waleswood where its award-winning produce is made by a small, dedicated team using the finest local ingredients for a local, national and international market.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Crisps said: "It was a truly memorable day for our whole team. Her Royal Highness was a wonderful guest, generously taking the time to speak with colleagues across the site and showing genuine interest in the people and processes behind our crisps. Her warmth and engagement made a lasting impression on everyone she met.

"We are also proud to recognise the outstanding work The Princess Royal continues to do in supporting local industry and championing charities across the UK. Her Royal Highness’s dedication to strengthening communities and celebrating British enterprise is both inspiring and greatly appreciated."

MTL Advanced website
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News: Gulliver's Valley hosts Duke and Duchess on flying visit to Rotherham

A new immersive learning destination at a Rotherham theme park welcomed prestigious visitors this week - Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Duke and Duchess were shown around Skills Street CIC, located at Gulliver’s Valley theme park, to get a first-hand look at the groundbreaking education and training environment.

The centre, which is designed to revolutionise how young people engage with careers and skills development, has a focus on hands-on, curriculum-linked experiences. It opened for initial visits earlier this year and is now welcoming schools, colleges, and educational groups.

A highlight was the opportunity to show Their Royal Highnesses the Skills Street aviation experience, which offers students a full airport simulation - from check-in to boarding a real Boeing 737 fuselage and flying an industry-standard simulator. Visitors can also explore historic Rolls-Royce and Vulcan aircraft engines and learn about careers in aviation, engineering, travel, and tourism.

The visit also saw local primary and secondary school pupils involved in skills activity across six industry learning zones.

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Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts and a board member of Skills Street, said: “What an honour to have welcomed Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to Skills Street. We were so pleased to meet them and showcase the amazing facility we have built here in Rotherham. They were extremely receptive to the aims of Skills Street as we develop new ways to help young people engage with careers and skills development, as well as our exciting plans for future growth.”

Skills Street features a wide range of sector-themed zones developed in partnership with leading organisations, including:

- Energy with E.ON – exploring renewable energy
- Health & Social Work with the NHS and Rotherham Council – showcasing over 380 career pathways
- Construction with Esh Group showcasing all aspects of the construction Industry
- Advanced Manufacturing with Gripple – focusing on robotics and automation

James Beighton, development manager at Skills Street, said: “To welcome Their Royal Highnesses to Skills Street was an absolute privilege. What a fantastic way to showcase the work happening locally to support the needs of education, business and communities across South Yorkshire. Days like today are proof of what we can achieve, working together to inspire our next generation workforce and stimulate our local economy, one skill at a time”.

Skills Street is part of a wider £20m investment by Rotherham Council to boost skills and leisure opportunities in the region.

Skills Street website
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News: Duke of York meets students at University Centre Rotherham

The new £10.5m University Centre Rotherham (UCR) received a royal welcome this week as HRH The Duke of York KG, officially opened the higher education centre on Doncaster Gate.

The visit coincided with the centre being awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), judging that the provider delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students - the highest quality found in the UK.

UCR is a brand new campus dedicated to offering degrees and professional training qualifications, providing a state-of-the-art teaching facility in the heart of Rotherham town centre.

On Doncaster Gate, UCR is operated by leading education and training provider RNN Group and is part of the Rotherham Plan 2025, a strategy set out by the Rotherham Together Partnership to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the borough.

During the visit, The Duke was welcomed to the new campus by CEO and principal of the RNN Group, Jason Austin, along with the vice chair of the corporation, Stephen Smith, several members of the group's senior leadership team and governors.

Education is one of His Royal Highness' core areas of focus, with The Duke committed to supporting a wide range of pathways to ensure young people develop the skills they need to become economically active.

During the visit, the Duke discussed the positive impact that the centre will have in Rotherham and that the development is in the best interests of young people and local employers.

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His Royal Highness was taken on a tour of the impressive building introducing staff and students studying within the centre, along with local employers and a range of alumni who have studied higher education courses within Rotherham College, also part of the RNN Group.

The main areas of focus during the visit were performing arts where degree students showcased a short performance from Shakespeare's Macbeth and media and photography where key features of the studio were described as enhancing the educational experience and employability skills.

Others included computing and digital and health and social care where The Duke had the opportunity to see how students work closely with local employers on live projects to ensure skills and experiences gained at UCR are relevant for the workplace. Students also demonstrated how the state-of-the-art facilities within the UCR are dedicated to providing all learners the opportunity to study their degrees locally without compromising on quality.

UCR's facilities also include specialist teaching areas, seminar and lecture rooms, a modern library, café and both independent and group study spaces.

RNN Group expects to run 50 different university-level courses by 2020, adding to the 32 higher-level courses currently on offer. The target is to attract 1,000 additional students over the first five years and tuition fees are under the £9,000 charged by many universities, making degrees more accessible for people in the town.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled by His Royal Highness, marking the opening of University Centre Rotherham as a key local Higher Education provider.

In March 2012 The Duke opened Rotherham College's Wentworth building offering specialist facilities in computing, business and accounting. Rotherham College is part of the same educational and training group as University Centre Rotherham, the RNN Group which also incorporates North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, RNN Training and other subsidiary training organisations. This continued investment in high quality education provision is aimed at increasing access to higher-level skills and, with the addition of University Centre Rotherham, higher or degree-level qualifications.

Jason Austin, CEO and principal of RNN Group, said: "With the official opening of our brand new University Centre Rotherham, we are proud to be extending our continued commitment to excellent education and training provision so that local people can now study degrees in the heart of Rotherham.

"We recognise this as an exciting step toward reducing the local skills gap and supporting the regional economy. We are delighted that the centre has been officially opened by HRH the Duke of York KG and hope this raises awareness of the significantly-improved access to local higher or degree-level qualifications."

The centre is hosting an open day this Saturday.

UCR website

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News: Rotherham power plant inaugurated by HRH The Duke of York

The £160m Templeborough Biomass Power Plant in Rotherham has been officially inaugurated by His Royal Highness The Duke of York, KG.

The power plant first generated electricity to the national grid at the end of last summer, exporting just over 41MW of green electricity which is enough to supply 78,000 homes (around half the population of Rotherham) and save over 150,000 tons of CO2 every year.

Built on disused land at the Firth Rixson Ickles Works, the plant generates clean, green energy using waste wood. The project has created the equivalent of more than 250 full time jobs during the construction phase and 30 jobs have been permanently established on site to operate the plant for its lifetime of more than 20 years.

Templeborough Biomass is fully owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure II (CI II), a fund managed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. CI II has invested approximately £160m equity in Templeborough Biomass, which has no third-party debt.

Christina Grumstrup Sørensen, senior partner of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, said: "We are very proud to formally inaugurate our plant and to have His Royal Highness The Duke of York visit to make the day extra special. We were delighted to be able to discuss with him the benefits of renewable energy in the fight against climate change."

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Tim Forrest, managing director of CI Biomass, added: "It has been a pleasure to celebrate the day with the project partners and reflect on the great work that has brought us to this point. We are now looking forward to many successful years of working with the local community here in Rotherham and generating clean, green energy for homes across South Yorkshire."

Cllr. Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, added: "We are delighted to have such a significant project open and generating renewable energy in our community. The benefits will bring the introduction of new, high tech, long term employment, recognising the immense skill base of our local people. Our region has so much to offer and we are delighted that the visit of His Royal Highness The Duke of York will bring international recognition to our project."

The power plant was built by a consortium of Birmingham-based Interserve Construction Ltd. and Babcock & Wilcox Vølund from Denmark. The waste wood fuel is sourced and processed by Stobart Biomass Products Ltd., a subsidiary of the Stobart Group.

The Duke went on to officially open the £10.5m University Centre Rotherham.

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News: McLaren's Rotherham facility set for royal opening

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are planning to make a pit stop in Rotherham next week to officially open the McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC).

A £50m investment has been made in developing and manufacturing the future of lightweighting technology with the soon to-open facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. It is the supercar manufacturer's second only production facility and the first outside its native Woking.

McLaren recently took the keys for the new 75,000 sq ft facility that will enable the development and manufacture of the Monocell and Monocage carbon fibre chassis used in future McLaren models.

Kensington Palace has confirmed that Prince William, and wife, Catherine will be in South Yorkshire on November 14 to open the composites centre.

His Royal Highness is no stranger to the firm, having visited the McLaren Production Centre in Woking in 2017 when he was shown around the facility by Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive.

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After meeting apprentices, The Duke was also given the honor of placing the final touch to a McLaren 720S – the placing of the McLaren bonnet badge - before seeing the model put through its paces on a rolling road test bed.

The Rotherham facility is due to be fully operational in 2020 when the current team of 45 will have grown to around 200 people.

The fastest growing luxury automotive brand in the UK recently revealed an updated and expanded £1.2bn business plan and has upped its production targets to reach 6,000 mid-engined sportscars and supercars a year by 2025. It registered 390 vehicles in the first half of 2018.

Ken Smart, project director for the MCTC, stated recently that McLaren is already looking at what else it can do in the region, adding that: "I'd be very surprised if there wasn't more to come."

Last month, McLaren unveiled its first "Hyper-GT" - the McLaren Speedtail. It will be built around a Rotherham-made carbon fibre monocage body structure unique to the Speedtail that envelops a McLaren F1-inspired central driving position and two additional passenger seats.

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News: AESSEAL's new Rotherham facility given royal seal of approval

HRH The Duke of York was back in Rotherham this week to see the continued investment from leading manufacturer, AESSEAL.

With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the £150m turnover company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

Earlier this month, Rothbiz featured the latest £500,000 investment in their testing facility.

To meet a huge demand for both new and repair of dry gas compressor seals, AESSEAL has doubled the current capacity and increasing the diameter of seals that it can manufacture, refurbish and dynamically test up to 380mm (14.96") shaft diameter.

Work began in a former store area of the state of the art premises in November last year. The company previously announced a multi-million pound investment in large capacity 9-axis machining centres which are an essential requirement for both new manufacture and repair of third party dry gas compressor seals. Lifting equipment has also been installed to increase the lifting capacity to 2,500kg (2.76 tonnes).

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Before officially opening the facility, the HRH The Duke of York met with some of the 300 Rotherham-based staff, including the company's founder and managing director, Chris Rea, and Madeleine Kearney, an AESSEAL engineering apprentice who has spent time working in the test house.

The testing rig ensures that Rotherham-made products meet the needs of the demanding oil & gas industry. AESSEAL's more standard sized seals can fit inside its latest, bigger products.

AESSEAL believe that Dry Gas Compressor Seals represent the top of the mechanical sealing technology ladder and have invested heavily in this technology in the last 15 years.

But Chris Rea, founder and managing director, explained to the HRH The Duke of York that: "We've spent ten years losing money in this sector. It's a broken market with no new technology since the 1950's. Our investment is a statement about what we can offer our customers - and that is the best in the world."

During his visit, HRH The Duke of York said: "It is a pleasure to be invited back here and to see the growth since my last visit in 2002. It is also a pleasure to see a company committed to its workforce and to manufacturing in the UK."

AESSEAL reports that, due to the decline in the oil price, all other major companies in the mechanical seal field, apart from AESSEAL, have seen declining revenues since the beginning of 2016, along with a substantial reduction in profitability and heavy job losses.

As proof, March 2017 saw sales at AESSEAL come in at just under £16m, nearly £2m greater than the previous record breaking month for the business.

Rea joked with the Duke of York: "Perhaps I can invite you back in 15 years when we have doubled the company."

The Duke's response: "You double the company and I'll be back as soon as it happens."

AESSEAL website

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News: Factory 2050 opened by HRH Duke of York

HRH The Duke of York was back in the Sheffield city region this week to open the University of Sheffield's Factory 2050 at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

Growing on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

The revolutionary, glass-walled "reconfigurable factory" is the institution's first building on the Sheffield Business Park and is dedicated to digital assembly and flexible component manufacturing.

The centre became fully operational in 2016 and is home to the AMRC's Integrated Manufacturing Group (IMG), which has installed cutting edge manufacturing and assembly technologies, advanced robotics, flexible automation, next generation man-machine interfaces and new programming and training tools that drive its research.

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As part of his visit, The Duke of York was given a tour of the factory by Ben Morgan, Head of the IMG. Mr Morgan demonstrated the work being done by the AMRC to enable robots to accurately machine holes in composite aircraft components - a project which has matured into a production system and is on track to save BAE Systems millions of pounds in capital and operational costs.

The Duke of York also saw how robots are being used for high-accuracy, flexible machining applications, and also had the opportunity to experience the latest cutting-edge mixed reality technologies being used to improve assembly, construction and manufacturing processes.

After the tour, The Duke of York unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening. The Royal Family are long-time supporters of the work of the AMRC. The Duke of York also opened the AMRC Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future in 2008 and the AMRC Training Centre in 2014.

During his visit, HRH The Duke of York said: "The AMRC is a very important part of the UK's industrial landscape. It has developed over the last 15-20 years from a gleam in the eye and is now at the forefront of research in a whole range of areas.

"I would like to congratulate everyone who has done such a lot to build what is a world class establishment doing some fantastic research. I've watched the AMRC grow over the years - I've even opened one or two of its buildings - so it's a great pleasure to be officially opening Factory 2050."

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Professor Keith Ridgway, executive dean of the AMRC, said: "Factory 2050 is an important part in the future development of the AMRC which is hugely significant for both the Sheffield City Region and the UK.

"It will keep us at the forefront of manufacturing technology and is a beacon for the Region - hopefully attracting young people to careers in manufacturing.

"It is an absolute honour to welcome HRH The Duke of York to officially open this exceptional facility."

In 2014 the institution signed a deal to secure 50 acres of land at Sheffield Business Park, paving the way for the expansion of the AMRC and building on its success on the AMP, where it already operates from 300,000 sq ft of accommodation within seven separate buildings.

Key to the development of an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), the aim of the AMRC Campus has been to draw manufacturing firms to the region - Rolls-Royce, McLaren and Boeing are high profile testaments to that.

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News: Apprentices play their part in ancient Royal ceremony

Leading Sheffield cutlery and giftware manufacturer Chimo Holdings and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, have joined forces to ensure three chairs fit for a Queen have genuine Made in Sheffield authenticity.

The chairs were commissioned for the Queen and other Royal guests to use during the centuries old Maundy money ceremony, which took place at Sheffield Cathedral last week.

The ceremony involves the reigning Sovereign presenting specially minted coins to local pensioners and has taken place at a UK cathedral or abbey on the Thursday before Easter since it was instituted by Charles II in 1662.

The chairs were commissioned by Sheffield Cathedral and have been given by the Master and Mistress Cutler, David and Ruth Grey.

Following the Royal Maundy Service, they will be in regular use in services at the Cathedral.

The chairs are primarily made of wood, but the arm rests of each chair is supported by a ring of stainless steel, made by Chimo and bearing a Made in Sheffield mark.

However, when it came to chamfering the rings to ensure a perfect fit with the wooden arm supports, Chimo needed a larger lathe than was available at its city centre factory.

Chris Hudson, owner of Chimo Holdings, said: "We thought a traditional company, working with advanced manufacturing would be an excellent combination of the skills Sheffield is famous for and where its future lies.

"We also thought it would be great to involve apprentices from the AMRC Training Centre."

With trainer Mick Fairman (pictured, right) taking the lead, AMRC-based apprentices carried out the work and returned the rings to Chimo to finish and add that extra high polish fit for The Queen before they were fitted to the chairs.

Alison Bettac, director of training at the AMRC Training Centre, said: "We were delighted to help Chimo, a successful company which has kept alive some of Sheffield's most historic and prestigious cutlery brand names.

"In years to come, those people from the training centre who were involved will be able to point to the chairs and say they played a part in a little bit of Sheffield history."

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and a partner in the HVM Catapult (the government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the AMP where the focus is on students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships. Sponsoring companies range from global leaders such as Rolls-Royce and Tata Steel to local high-tech supply-chain companies and apprentices have opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses, doctorates and MBA levels.

Chimo website
AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Duke officially opens AMRC Training Centre

HRH The Duke of York, KG has officially opened the £20.5m AMRC Training Centre in Rotherham, the pioneering centre that is shaping young people into the future of manufacturing in the region.

Part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, the focus is on providing the skills that manufacturing companies need to compete globally. Providing the human side of regeneration on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), it is supported by the Regional Growth Fund and European Regional Development Fund and 250 students a year, aged from 16 upwards, are being taken on paid apprenticeships with opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses.

During The Duke of York's tour His Royal Highness was shown how it combines state-of-the-art educational facilities with training workshops, equipped with production-class manufacturing equipment.

The Duke of York, an active supporter of expanding access to apprenticeships, also had the opportunity to meet some of the centre's current trainees, their employers and training centre staff.

Professor Sir Keith Burnett, vice-chancellor of The University of Sheffield, said: "We are delighted to once again welcome The Duke of York to the AMRC. His Royal Highness has supported the work of our engineers and member companies every step of the way, and we know he takes real personal satisfaction in seeing how our research is being applied within UK companies helping them to compete even more effectively for business around the world.

The Duke has previously performed the official opening duties for the AMRC's Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future in 2008 and Nuclear AMRC in 2012.

Burnett, added: "The Duke of York has also always been aware that this work is about more than products, it is about the skills and jobs which offer opportunity to young people and which change their lives. Welcoming him to our Training Centre will allow His Royal Highness to meet these talented young people for himself and to see how the AMRC is developing the manufacturing engineers of the future."

Torston Middleton, a first year apprentice at the AMRC Training Centre sponsored by Rotherham-based Newburgh, welcomed the royal visitor and said that it would raise the profile of the centre and give the apprentices a lift.

Performing the official opening Prince Andrew said: "Apprenticeships - to some they have been a difficult commodity and to me that is disappointing. I want to change that completely because these apprentices prove their worth to the nation's economy. Apprentices have a "wealth of knowledge" and they should be encouraged by parents, schools and businesses. Young people should be told what they can do, not what they can't, and in this route, manufacturing apprentices can go right through to PhD level.

"Businesses are crying out for the skills of young people and apprenticeships are more important today when it comes to training. Just look at this institution, its kit, its activities. The apprentices don't just learn one thing, they acquire a broader set of skills.

"Remember, this drive or ambition to encourage young people to get the skills and education is not chasing numbers but about making the UK as prosperous as we can. We need these young people in order to be a prosperous nation.

"The level of learning and training here is absolutely outstanding and I wish all the apprentices, businesses and sponsors every success. I have been blown away by The AMRC's contribution to the future.

"The AMRC and what is happening here is having a major impact on local industry and so I want you to pass on this message to businesses and parents - young people can achieve anything and an apprenticeship is one way to make a major contribution."

AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Royal appointment for Rotherham enterprise project

HRH The Duke of York hosted a meeting at Buckingham Palace this week to be given an update on the progress of the world-leading enterprise education programme, Ready Unlimited, that began life in Rotherham schools.

Ready Unlimited started out as a local authority initiative to tackle low levels of ambition and achievement in deprived Rotherham schools and has won international acclaim after helping transform school performance by showing teachers how to embed enterprise learning approaches in lessons for pupils as young as four years old.

Catherine Brentnall, managing director, and Jackie Frost, non-executive director at Ready Unlimited, were invited to the capital yesterday to update Prince Andrew on the Rotherham model which is now replicated by not-for-profit social enterprise, Ready Unlimited and works with 449 schools across the UK, encouraging pupils to be entrepreneurial but in doing so, aims to develop their learning behaviours, engagement in school and attitudes and expectations for the future.

The Duke supports providers of entrepreneurially focused education and visited Herringthorpe Infants school in Rotherham in 2012 (pictured), where he met teachers, pupils and staff involved in the award-winning education programme.

Jackie Frost, non-executive director at Ready Unlimited, said: "I was there when HRH the Duke of York visited Rotherham. It was such a momentous occasion for the children and everyone who has been involved with Rotherham Ready over the years. He kindly invited Ready Unlimited to update him on the progress made since "spinning out" of the local authority 12 months ago. I'm so proud to be involved!"

No stranger to Buckingham Palace, Jackie was there in 2009 to receive her Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion - the UK's most prestigious award for individuals helping to unlock Britain's entrepreneurial talent.

Ready Unlimited website

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News: Royal visit to region

His Royal Highness (HRH) The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO has visited Inditherm in Rotherham to see its innovative range of products.

Prince Richard, The Queen's cousin, visited the company's headquarters at Manvers before going on to officially open the University Technical College (UTC) Sheffield.

AIM-listed Inditherm has developed products using low voltage carbon polymer technology to provide heat. Its systems are used for patients undergoing operations which carry risk of inadvertent hypothermia and in neonatal wards. It is also used in industrial applications such as keeping pipes at a set temperature.

CosyTherm uses the low voltage carbon polymer technology to help prevent hypothermia in new born babies. The systems are already highly popular in the UK and used in almost half of all NHS neonatal units, with that number still growing. The product is also gaining increased international recognition, with users in over 30 countries world-wide.

Nick Bettles, CEO of Inditherm, said: "Inditherm is unique in that we are a small UK manufacturing company utilising our own carbon polymer heating technology to manufacture specialist products for the most demanding and diverse markets both at home and around the world. We are delighted to have been able to welcome His Royal Highness to see for himself something of what we are achieving here, both in terms of technological advancement and commercial success."

The UTC, based on Sheffield Council's Porter Brook Site in Sheffield city centre, was the first UTC in Yorkshire to open when the first students began studying at the £9.9m campus in September. It is helping to shape the future workforce for two of the region's key sectors - advanced engineering and manufacturing, and creative and digital media.

His Royal Highness met students and staff during a one-hour tour. Student Daniel Kay, 16, who is studying advanced engineering and manufacturing, demonstrated to His Royal Highness how to make test parts on a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe (pictured). Daniel, who wants to go onto a higher level apprenticeship or university after completing his studies at the UTC Sheffield, said: "It was a great experience. His Royal Highness asked me whether I had programmed the machine software. I explained that my teacher had helped me, and I demonstrated how to test the parts."

Student Thomas Gladwin, 16, also showed His Royal Highness how to set up the CNC milling machines. He said: "I'm very glad I took part today. I'm really enjoying my studies at the UTC and I hope to go onto a higher level apprenticeship or university afterwards."

Nick Crew, principal of the UTC Sheffield, said: "This is a really proud day for all those involved in the UTC project. The official opening marks the end of the successful design and build programme and the start of something really special for the young people of our region."

The UTC application has been sponsored and led by The Sheffield College with Sheffield Hallam University and the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry as co-sponsors but it is effectively led by employers from the relevant sectors within the city region. The UTC Steering Group includes representatives from The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, Newburgh Engineering and Firth Rixson.

The student experience at the UTC is dominated by employer-led projects and supporters include AESSEAL, Darron Tools, Rolls-Royce, PES Ltd and Tata Steel.

Inditherm website
UTC Sheffield website

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News: New starters at Tata Steel

30 apprentices have begun their training at Tata Steel Speciality Steels in South Yorkshire, the largest intake in three years.

Last week saw the first time the apprentices got together on site when they welcomed a royal visit to Stocksbridge by HRH The Earl of Wessex, alongside their trainers, company officials and local dignitaries. The event was slightly more formal than the apprentice team building day recently held at Rotherham Titans' Clifton Lane ground.

Apprentice and graduate recruitment restarted for Tata Steel in South Yorkshire in 2010 following large scale restructuring in 2009. Over 2,000 people are employed by the Indian-owned company in South Yorkshire where sites like Stocksbridge and Aldwarke in Rotherham, focus on exceptional high-value products and sectors.

Over 60 apprentices are receiving their training in the engineering side - mechanical, electrical and technical - or in the administration or commercial side of the business. The scheme also takes on apprentices from other local firms in the Tata supply chain who work in markets ranging from automotive to aerospace, civil engineering to component manufacturing, energy industries to consumer goods.

This year's recruitment of the apprentices was again over subscribed with around 500 applying to get in. It is not surprising given the commitment and willingness to apprentices shown by Tata Steel that saw the apprentice training scheme in South Yorkshire highly commended in the National Apprenticeship Awards for the second year running and ensures that Speciality Steels is set to remain in the UK top 100 apprentice employers list to be published in November.

The commitment and willingness to apprentices stems from the same realisation that many engineering firms face when they discover that 70% of the production workforce is over the age of 45.

A state-of-the-art engineering training centre at its Stocksbridge site was extended in 2012. Converted from a disused workshop, the centre enables the company to train in-house and equip the apprentices with the specialist skills essential to meet the current and future needs of this industry.

The Earl met a range of apprentices including Callum Strutt, a new starter who despite admitting that he would "never follow in their footsteps" is at the start of a journey at the company taken by both his father and grandfather.

Before touring the remelting area, Prince Edward also received a company presentation from Rejoice Chikosi, Thomas Matthews and Rush Garfitt, who are going through, or have recently completed, their three year apprenticeship and appear to be on their way to being fast-tracked to top positions at Tata Steel.

Mick Hood, HR director Specialty Steels at Tata Steel, said: "We were delighted to welcome the Earl of Wessex to our Stocksbridge site.

"He was very interested to meet our apprentices and to hear from them about the important role they play in creating a world-beating steel company.

"We are very proud of our apprentices, the contribution they make to our future and the commitment they show to Tata Steel."

Tata Steel website

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News: New York Stadium gets royal seal of approval

HRH The Duke of Kent KG has officially opened the New York Stadium at a ceremony at the home of Rotherham United.

On the site of the former Guest & Chrimes Foundry, close to Rotherham town centre, the £20m development hosted its first games this season.

The Duke received a tour of stadium and finalised proceedings by unveiling a commemorative plaque beside the playing surface specially made for the Millers.

The tour included a look around the Millers corporate hospitality lounges, dressing room areas, which was conducted by Honorary Ambassador Howard Webb, and was finalised with the unveiling of the plaque alongside Millers Chairman Tony Stewart.

The Duke concluded his visit by leaving his mark in the signing-in book at reception.

Tony Stewart, chairman of Rotherham United, said: "He showed a great interest as he was told about the activities that take place here in the heart of Rotherham, and over the time he was here, he got the message that this is more than a football stadium. This is a venue to benefit all the areas of Rotherham, young and old, this is a stadium for the people.

"New York Stadium is officially opened now and hopefully success will follow on the pitch."

Rotherham United website

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News: Royal visit for HEROtsc in Rotherham

The Duke of York, KG will visit the Rotherham operation of HEROtsc tomorrow and learn more of the philosophies and innovative training programmes that have seen staff numbers at the contact centre nearly treble in the past eight years.

His Royal Highness is visiting following an invitation extended by Sunil Kant Munjal, HEROtsc Chairman, during The Duke of York's Diamond Jubilee visit to India in May 2012.

When HEROtsc took over the former T-Mobile site at Manvers in 2004, staff numbers had dwindled to less than 300. Today the thriving Dearne Valley centre has over 830 employees working for leading trade names such as Vodafone, E.ON and Office Depot – with an ongoing recruitment and training programme to bring new jobs to the area.

David Turner, Chief Executive Officer of HEROtsc, who will escort His Royal Highness around the site, said: "We are well aware of our importance to the community and are delighted that has been recognised by The Duke of York.

"In difficult economic times, we have managed to grow our business, from long-term strategic partnerships with blue chip clients and bring vital jobs here and across other areas of the UK.

"A large percentage of that recruitment is among 16 to 24 year olds, where there is great concern nationwide at the high level of unemployment in that age group.

"His Royal Highness is particularly interested in all aspects of youth training and employment and during his visit he will meet our Head of Youth Employability and be given an overview of our in-house training programme – our Customer Excellence Academy.

"The Duke of York will meet a cross-section of our staff - from senior managers to recent recruits and, I hope, be impressed by the can-do attitude and professionalism of all.

"I am confident that His Royal Highness will find his visit here both interesting and enlightening. We are proud of our achievements here – and determined to keep on the front foot."

Telecom Service Centres (TSC), one of Scotland's fastest-growing contact centre companies, was acquired in a £40m deal by Indian counterpart Hero Ites (part of the Hero Group) in 2007.

HEROtsc website

Images: herotsc.co.uk

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News: Beatson Clark showcases Rotherham manufacturing to royal visitor

Glass manufacturer Beatson Clark welcomed a royal visitor to its plant in Rotherham last week.

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, toured the Greasborough Road factory to see £10m of recent investments, including a new white flint furnace, and had lunch with some of the company's directors.

He signed the visitors' book and unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit before managing director Tony McLoughlin presented the Duke with a special bottle of beer in one of Beatson Clark's new lightweight amber beer bottles.

Lynn Sidebottom, sales and marketing director at Beatson Clark, said: "It was a great honour for us to welcome the Duke to our factory and he seemed to enjoy finding out how the glass process works."

The £44m-turnover firm employs over 300 people and celebrated its 260th anniversary last year. They specialise in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide and manufacture glass containers for a wide range of household brands, including Crabbie's, Bell's Buttercup, Lyle's Golden Syrup and Lemsip.

The site has a production capacity of approximately 496 million units or 88,000 tonnes.

The Queen's cousin also visited the Rotherham Hospice and along with the Duchess of Gloucester, enjoyed a garden party at Clifton Park and visited the headquarters of children's charity, Safe@Last and the Lifewise Centre, the interactive learning centre based at Hellaby and run by South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

Beatson Clark website

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News: Beatson Clark to welcome royal visitor to Rotherham

Glass manufacturer Beatson Clark will welcome a royal visitor to its plant in Rotherham next week.

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, will tour the Greasborough Road factory on September 6 to see how £10m of recent investments, including a new white flint (clear glass) furnace, have improved operations.

He will be one of the first people to inspect the new £5.4m furnace, which went into full operation earlier this month. The site has a production capacity of approximately 496 million units or 88,000 tonnes.

Beatson Clark employees will explain the glass-making process to the Duke as he looks round the factory, and the Duke will also have lunch with members of the company's Board of Directors.

The Queen's cousin will unveil a plaque to commemorate his visit and sign the visitors' book before continuing on a tour which will also include a visit to Rotherham Hospice on Broom Road and a garden party in Clifton Park.

Lynn Sidebottom, sales and marketing director at Beatson Clark, said: "It is a great honour for us to welcome the Duke to our factory and we are looking forward to showing him how the glass process works and what Beatson Clark can offer to the marketplace."

The £44m-turnover firm employs over 300 people and celebrated its 260th anniversary last year. They specialise in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide and manufacture glass containers for a wide range of household brands, including Crabbie's, Bell's Buttercup, Lyle's Golden Syrup and Lemsip.

Beatson Clark website

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News: Royal opening for Nuclear AMRC

The Duke of York was in Rotherham last week to officially open the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC).

His Royal Highness met with Nuclear AMRC staff and apprentices, and representatives from a wide range of manufacturing businesses, to find out how the Nuclear AMRC is helping them become more competitive.

The £25m Nuclear AMRC on the Advanced Manufacturing Park is a joint initiative between the University of Sheffield, The University of Manchester, and a consortium of industry partners. It assists UK companies to successfully compete in the emerging £40 billion civil nuclear supply chain.

Research and operations are led by its industrial members – 34 companies are currently full members, from reactor providers Areva and Westinghouse, and top-tier suppliers such as Rolls-Royce, Tata Steel and Sheffield Forgemasters, through to specialised SMEs.

Professor Keith Ridgway CBE, programme director of the Nuclear AMRC, said: "We are delighted that The Duke of York has agreed to open the Nuclear AMRC. The new centre has a huge role to play in assisting UK manufacturers to enter the nuclear new build market, both at home and globally. The support we provide will have a huge impact on the number and value of contracts that UK manufacturers can win."

Construction of the 8,000 sq m centre was begun in November 2010, with Her Majesty the Queen donning virtual reality glasses to remotely activate a digger.

It was built to "Excellent" BREEAM environmental standards with power and heating is provided by a 99m wind turbine rated at 900kW and ground source heat pumps with 320kW capacity.

The core of the building contains almost 6,000 sq m of workshop space, containing a range of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment tailored for nuclear industry applications. The building also includes laboratory and technical support space, a VR cave for virtual assembly research and training.

Following the opening of the Nuclear AMRC building, The Duke of York visited the University of Sheffield's new Diamond Jubilee Knowledge Transfer Centre to meet local companies which have been in business for 60 years, as part of the Jubilee celebrations.

The newly-named £4m centre enables experts to increase R&D activity and collaboration with regional manufacturers. It is increasing the rate of knowledge transfer, bringing more companies into long-term collaborations with the AMRC's research centres.

Nuclear AMRC website

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News: Duke meets Rotherham's young entrepreneurs

His Royal Highness The Duke of York has given his seal of approval to Rotherham Ready, the flagship programme which is transforming children as young as four-years-old into budding entrepreneurs.

The Duke, who has a special interest in business and enterprise, visited Herringthorpe Infants school in Rotherham, where he met teachers, pupils and staff involved in the award-winning education programme.

Herringthorpe is the only infant school in the world to have an entrepreneurship speciality and the Duke saw children as young as four who are learning about the skills and attitudes needed in the world of work and business.

Rotherham Ready, which was launched in 2005, has become internationally acclaimed for its approach to integrating enterprise into learning for all children aged 4-19. The town won the prestigious Enterprising Britain competition in 2010 for this work. And in 2011, following the launch of the national facing part of the programme, ‘Are You Ready?’, won the StartUp Britain ‘Best Enterprise Support’ award at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Catherine Brentnall, project officer at Rotherham Ready, said: "The Duke recognised the disconnect between education and business and seemed genuinely impressed with the way we're bridging the gap and the real impact our work is having on children and young people.

"What was really encouraging was that he seemed interest in the national significance of the programme and the wider impact we can have across the UK."

Nancy Cresswell-Hall, 6, was one of the many pupils who chatted to the Duke during his visit to Herringthorpe Infants. She told him all about a classroom exercise based on the shoddy service given by the company who provided the Emperor’s New Clothes. The Duke also met Danny West who set up his own successful piazza party business and now also works as a Rotherham Ready mentor.

Following the success of Rotherham Ready, the programme has been replicated in Hull, North Lincolnshire, Calderdale, Scarborough, and most recently, Derbyshire in a bid to help young people develop alternatives to the unprecedented challenges they now face amidst youth unemployment of a million plus.

In the afternoon, His Royal Highness opened the Wentworth Building at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology in Rotherham town centre.

Rotherham Ready website

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News: Royal visit for RCAT

Staff and students at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology (RCAT) were given the royal treatment after a special visitor helped them celebrate the opening of their new building in Rotherham town centre.

His Royal Highness The Duke of York opened the new £7m Wentworth Building where he spent the morning touring the new facilities and meeting guests and students from around the local area.

In opening the building, The Duke of York followed in his father's footsteps as the Wentworth Building is connected by walkways to the nearby Clifton Building, which was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1961.

His Royal Highness was welcomed by dignitaries including the, the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, The Master Cutler of Hallamshire, and the Mayor, Deputy Leader and the Chief Executive of Rotherham Council

He also met the Chair of the college's Board, Ken Barrass, staff members who were heavily involved in the development of the Wentworth Building and some of the college's longest serving members of staff.

Gill Alton, principal and chief executive of RCAT, had the honour of escorting His Royal Highness around the Wentworth Building and introduced him to students who showcased their skills and work.

Gill said: "It is a real honour for our newest building to be officially opened by His Royal Highness The Duke of York and his visit has made the occasion very special. Not only is it a celebration of a fantastic new educational facility for Rotherham, it is in recognition of the staff and students that make this college great.

"Students have played an important role in supporting the Royal visit by preparing demonstrations and acting as college photographers and ambassadors throughout the day. It has been a proud moment for everyone."

His Royal Highness listened to engineering students who showcased the "classroom on the roof" which features the solar panels responsible for the "green energy" used throughout the building.

Students in Games Animation, Theatrical Make-up and Plumbing were also visited by His Royal Highness where he talked to them about their work and their future careers.

The royal visited Herringthorpe Infants School in the morning to meet teachers, pupils and staff involved in the award-winning education programme, Rotherham Ready.

RCAT website

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News: Royal opening for MTL Group's Rotherham facility

Project manufacturing specialist MTL Group welcomed HRH The Duke of Kent to its new 300,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Rotherham last week.

MTL Group is one of the fastest growing project manufacturing specialists in the metals sector and is a global supplier of secondary steelwork. It works with a global blue-chip customer base in the defence, construction equipment, rail and off-shore wind energy sectors.

Escorted by the Lord-Lieutenant for South Yorkshire, HRH The Duke of Kent was greeted by MTL Group Managing Director Dr. Henry Shirman and the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire.

The Duke was among the invited guests who celebrated the occasion at the £5m state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which was acquired to meet MTL Group's growing presence in the steel engineering sector.

Dr. Henry Shirman led the Duke on a tour of the Grange Lane facility, which supplies original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with laser cut parts up to fully machined fabrications.

The company has made a significant investment in technology which means that MTL's Rotherham facility boasts the largest laser in the UK and a 640-tonne robotic press, which is the biggest of its kind anywhere in the world. A new high definition bevel plasma cutter and a robotic tube cutter are also in place, both specially designed to support the growth in orders from the offshore renewable energy sector.

One area of particular interest to the Duke was MTL Group's support in supplying armoured steel for UK Defence vehicles. Most recently manufacturing and supplying the V shaped hull for the new Foxhound vehicle which will replace the Snatch Land Rover from 2012 in high threat locations.

Dr. Henry Shirman said: "MTL Group is delighted to welcome His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent and our guests to the official opening of our new manufacturing facility.

"His Royal Highness was very impressed with the state-of-the-art facilities and praised MTL Group on its contribution to UK manufacturing."

MTL Group website

Images: MTL Group

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